Drier.



C. E. GEI GER.

DRIER.

APPLICATION mm APR.10, 1911.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET1.'

C. E. GEIGER.

DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0, [9!].

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

churn SATE @Fll iltlldo CHARLES E. GIEIGER 0F LOUISVILLE,KENTUCKYQASSIGNQR 0F GEE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM E. HOOP BIND ONE-THIRD T0 G.WALTER FISKE, 30TH OF LOUISVILLE,

KENTUCKY.

specification of Letters Patent.

DRIER.

Patented May 1L8, 1 .915.

Application filed April 10, 1911. Sofie]. Etc. 819,978.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. Gnienn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county ofJefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain 'new and usefulImprovements in Driers, of

which the following is a specification...

This invention relates to driers, more particularly designated anddescribed as rotary driers of the class employing steam heated pipes asthe heating elements, and the primary object of the invention is toprovide an improved, simple and cheap device of the character describedwhich shall be efiective and eilicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means allowing theindependent expansion of the steam pipes.

A further object is to provide improved means for disposing of the waterof condensation.

For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new'and useful objects my invention consists in the features of novelty inthe construction and combination generally shown in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the specification, but more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the preferredembodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly insection. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the method of spacing of thesteam pipes. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the steam supply and dischargeconnection forthe drier. And Fig. 5 is a detail View of the looselythreaded "ent plug.

Referring now more articularly to the drawings a rotatable cy indricalshell 6 is provided at one end with a manifold 7 formed with an axialchamber 8, peripheral chambers 9, and passageways connecting the saidchambers. Secured to and communicating with the interior of theperipheral chambers 9 are tubes 10 and 11, preferably difiering in sizeand arranged concentrically with the axis of the cylinder, the largerpipes being on theoutside. Opposite the tubes 10 and 11 .in the outersurface of the manifold are the plugs 44 and to which are secured to themanifold in any suitable well known manner. The other ends of the tubesextend to the end of the cylinder opposite the manifold and a supportingmember 12 56 is secured to the end of the cylinder 6, being providedwith openings 13 and 14 through which the ends of the tubes 10 and 11are adapted to extend. The ends of the tubes are closed and providedwith removable plugs 15. This end mounting is of. such a-[ nature thatthe pipes or tubes although making a comparatively close fit arepermitted to slide freely through the openings.

it is evident with this construction that the desired or suitablemanner, a preferred construction and arrangement being shown by Fig. 3in which the tube 10 is spaced from the cylinder by means of a spacingmember 110, thetube 11 being spaced from the tube 110 by spacing member11', and a. threaded U-bolt 21 extending around both tubes and throughthe wall of the cylinder 6 and secured on the outside of the cylinder bysuitable fastening devices Between the tube 10 and the cylinder there isalso positioned an angle iron'member 22 which is adapted to form a sortof a pocket for the retention of the material to be dried as thecylinder rotates.

The preferred construction of'the manifold 7 is shown more clearly inFig. 2 and in this exemplification it is provided with 490 threeperipheral chambers 9 and a come sponding number of spokes 16, each ofwhich is preferably formed with two passageways connecting theperipheral 'chambers with'theaxial chamber, both ends of 96 eachperipheral chamber being connected through different spokes, the forwardend of the 'chdmber (referring to the end of the chamber which is inthedirection of rotation) having free communication with the loo axialchamber by means of the passageway Hand the other end of each chamberhav which is inserted a pipe or tube 20 which extends without the axialchamber into a stuffing box chamber hereinafter described. Secured tothe axial chamber of the manifold 7 is a flanged stufiing box member 22which is provided with an annular chamber 23 and which is adapted toreceive the steamsupply fitting 24 in the other end. The stufiing boxmember is rotatable with the manifold and the steam supply fitting isstationary, the two members being provided with suitable packingarranged therebetween to permit of their freerotation with respect toeach other. A cleaning opening and plate 23 is provided for the chamber23. The steam supply fitting is fgrmed with a chambered member 25 closedat both ends through which a steam supply pipe 26 eX- tends, beingprovided at its outer end with a pipe 27 to connect it with the sourceof steam supply and at the inner end with a pipe 28 which extends intothe axial mani fold chamber 8. Secured to and communicating with theinterior of the chambered member 25 is a pipe or tube 29 which projectsdownwardly into the stufling box chamber 23, and at theother end of thechambered member is a pipe connection 30 communicating with the interiorthereof and provided with a cock 3-1 or other suitable means to open thesaid chamber to the atmosphere, to a steam trap, or to other desiredconnection.

1 The end of the'cylinder adjacent the manifold is preferably designatedas the discharge end and in the present exemplification there isprovided a housing 32 which encompasses the end and which is providedwith a spiral screw conveyer 33 or other suitable conveying means. Inthis end of the cylinder there are provided openings 34 adjacent the endof the manifold through which the dried material is discharged into achute 35 which leads to-the conveyer 33 The receiving end of thecylinder is provided with areceiving hopper 36, at the bottom of whichthere is a spiral conveyer 37 operated by a suitable outside connection.This hopper is separated from a vapor chamber 39 by the partition 36 andis preferably provided with an opening 38 for charging the material tobe dried into the receiver. The vapor chamber 39 is adapted to carry offthe vapors driven ofi from the heated material being dried.

The plugs 15 are readily adjustable in th closed ends of the tubes andare adapted to be loosely inserted therein to permit the egress of airfrom the tubes when steam is first admitted thereto at the other end.These plugs may be retained in position in various ways, preferably bybeing screwthe loose fitting plugs, but as the steam heats up the plugsthey will expand and automatically closethe opening between the steampipes and the outer ends of the tubes; as indicated by the squared headsof the plugs in Fig. 1, they may be turned so as to be adjusted tovarious positions and-may, if desired, be moved to such position as toentirely close the ends of the tubes, particularly after the air hasescaped and the tubes have been heated. It will therefore be seen thatby proper adjustment of the screwthreaded plugs which fit loosely in thescrew-threaded openings in the ends of the tubes, the openings may beautomatically closed when the air has been driven out and the steambegins to escape. This arrangement permits the steam to fill the tubesand heat them in a minimum space of time and also prevents the escape ofsteam and therefore conserves the heat and increases the eiliciency ofthe apparatus. In some instances, if desired, the plugs may fit moreloosely initially and then operated manually to close up the openingsafter the steam begins to escape, orthe plugs may be so adjusted as topermit a gradual discharge of steam at all times after the air has beendriven out, but I prefer to have the plugs so arranged and adjusted thatthey will automatically close the openings after substantially all theair has been driven out and at about the time the steam begins toescape.

Suitable driving mechanism is provided for simultaneously rotatingthedrying cylinder 6 and the screw oonveyer 37 This driving mechanism maycomprise the gear wheel 40which meshes with the spur gear 41 on thedriving shaft 42 and the sprocket gearing, as indicated on the drawing.The drying cylinder is mounted in an inclined position on rollerbearings, the upper. end being adjacent the vapor flue. In a well knownmanner the inner longitudinal fin picks up the material in the dryingcylinder and showers it through the draft, and

inder. To secure the maximum heating surface the steam pipes arearranged radially, the outer pipes being of larger diameter than theinner pipes. In this manner room is provided for as many inner pipes asouter sures uniform distribution of the'material being dried and uniformheating eflect on the same. There are also constructional advantages inthe -.concentric arrangement of the inner and outer series of steampipes.

- By of'the inclination ofthe drypipes and their concentric-arrangementasing cylinder the water of condensation in the steam pipes will alwaysflow toward the manifold near the discharge end of the drier. In theembodiment of the invention herein described and as shown particularlyin Figs. 2 and 4, the water of condensation will be directed by means ofthe passages 18 into the chamber 8 through the short pipes 20 and thenceinto the chamber 22, which has been hereinbefore referred to as theflanged stuftingbox member. This chamber 22 is enlargedcircumferentially as shown, in order that the water which enters thesame may flow to its lower portion where it will covert-he lower end ofthe tube 29, through which it will be forced by the steam pressure fromthe manifold, into the tube 24: from which it flows through thedischarge pipe 30 when the valve 31 is open. The valve 31 may be openedoccasionally or may be left open continuously so that the water ofcondensation will be discharging automatically when the Water in thetrap 22 is sufficient in depth to cover or submerge the lower end of thetube 29. It should be understood that when the drying cylinder rotates,the manifold, the axial chamber 8 and the water collecting chamber ortrap 22 rotates with the said cylinder. 1 The steam supply pipe 26, thenozzle 28, the depending tube 29, the casing 24, and the water dischargepipe 30 always remain stationary.-

As shown in Fig. 4, there may be provided a ball bearing between-thestufiing-box carried with the water trap 22, and the flanged collar onthe water casing 25.

It will be seen from the foregoingdescription that the construction issuch that only a. single manifold is necessary, and that the steam pipesare each independently movable 1 or free to expand and contract withoutplacing any undue strain on any part of the apparatus. The looselyfitting plugs may be so adj listed as to permit the air to escape whenthe steam is turned on, andthen automatically close when the steamreaches the same. The steam pipes are concentrically arranged in twocircumferential series, thus increasing the heating surface,facilitating construction and increasing the stirring up action of thematerial in the drier so as to increase the rapidity with which the airab sorbs the moisture. The steam is supplied to the manifold and steampipes in an eflicient manner and the water of condensation is collectedand carried away with minimum loss of steam because of the steam traplocated very closely to the manifold. The stationary protecting casingi32 assures directing the material into the" hopper 35 from which thedried material goes into the conveyer box containing the conveyer 33. Itwill be observed that the discharge openings 34: are located ahead ofthe manifoldlso that there will be no banking up of the material beforebeing ejected from the drying cylinder. The stationary casing 32 has anenlarged opening in its center which causes the air draft to be directedthrough the central portion of the drying cylinder instead of throughthe openings 34. There are also other advantages in the construction,arrangement and operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described andshown in the accompanying drawings.

It will be seen with this improved, construction that only a singlemanifold is necessary, that the steam pipes are independ-' entlymovable, and that the discharge means for dried material permit it to bedischarged into a conveying apparatus without passing over the manifold.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the'spirit andscope of my invention as defined by the claims, and I desire thereforenot to be restricted to'the precise construction herein disclosed.

/Vhat is claimed as new is 1. In a rotary steam drier, the combinationwith a rotary cylinder, of steam pipes within said cylinder, a manifoldconnected to said pipes atone end of each, means 00- acting with saidmanifold for directing the water of condensation to the axis of saidmanifold, a cylindrical water collection receptacle connected to rotatewith the cylinder, steam pipes and manifold; a steam supply pipeextending into the manifold, a stationary casing forming a chamberaround a portion of said steam pipe, and extending outside of the watercollection receptacle, an open. pipe communicating with the lowerportion of said cylindrical collecting chamber and the said casing, anda water discharge pipe connected to the outer portion -casing, a waterdischarge pipe connected to the outside of said stationary casing, and aball bearing stuffing-box connecting the chamber and said casing. g i

3. In a rotary drier, the combination with a rotary cylinder, of heatingpipes or fl-ues within said cylinder, a manifold secured to said flues,the fines being of different sizes radially arranged with the smallerflues nearer the axis of the cylinder, discharge openings in thecylinder near the manifold but on the side facing toward the receivingend of the cylinder, a shell for receiving the dried material from saiddischarge openings, and mountings for the fines at the ends opposite themanifold for permitting elongation of said flues due to their expansionwhen heated. v

4. In a rotary drier, the combination with a rotatable cylinder, ofheating pipes within said cylinder, a manifold connected to said pipesnear the discharge end of the cylinder, discharge openings in thecylinder adjacent the manifold but on the side facing toward thereceiving end of the cylinder, means for supporting the tubes freely atthe receiving end of the cylinder, and a stationary shell inclosing themanifold and receiving the dried material discharged from said dischargeopenings in said cylinder.

5. In a rotary steam drier, the combination with a rotatable cylinder,of steam pipes within said cylinder, a steam manifold connected on oneside to said steam pipes at one end of the cylinder with openings in theother side opposite the ends of the pipes, an annular plate forreceiving loosely the opposite ends of the steam pipes, removable plugsin the last named end of said steam pipes, and removable plugs in themanifold foropenings registeringwith the opposite ends of said pipes.

6. In a rotary steam drier, the combination with a rotatable cylinder,of steam pipes within said cylinder, a plate at one end of .saidcylinder for loosely receiving one end of each of said steam pipes withthe ends exposed, removable plugs in. said exposed revoluble cylinderhaving receiving and disends of the pipes, and removable plugs spacedfrom and registering with the opposite ends of the pipes.

7 In a rotary drier, the combination with a' rotatable cylinder having areceiving end and a discharge end, of heating fiues within saidcylinder, a manifold at the discharge end of the cylinder connected tosaid fiues, means for supporting the opposite ends of the fines, at thereceiving end of the cylinder, means for cleaning the fiues of the waterof condensation, said supporting means permitting the tubes to movefreely longitudinally relatively to the same, means for simultaneouslyactuating the feeding apparatus, the fiue-cleaning'mechanism and therotary cylinder, apparatus for collecting the water of condensationwhile trapping the steam closely adjacent to the manifold, and means forsupplying steam to the manifold and said fines.

8. In a rotary drier, the combination of a revoluble cylinder havingreceiving and discharge ends, a manifold in the discharge end formedwith an axial chamber, peripheral chambers, and communicating radialpassages between said chambers, the said passages arranged and disposedas spokes as many in number as the peripheral chambers, the peripheralchambers each having a passage from the forward end through one spokefor the steam, and a passage for water from the rear end through anotherspoke, a chambered stuffing box secured to the manifold adjacent theaxial chamber, tubes secured to the said water passage to direct thewater from said peripheral chambers into the chamber of the stuflingbox, and means to direct steam to the axial chamber and to provide adischarge for steam or water from the chamber of the stufling box."

9. In a rotary drier, the combination of a revoluble cylinder'havingreceiving and discharge ends, a manifold in the discharge end formedwith an axial chamber, peripheral chambers and communicating radialpassages between said chambers, the said passages arranged and disposedas spokes as many in number'as the peripheral chambers, the peripheralchambers each having a passage from the forward end through one spokefor the steam, and a passage for water from the rear and through anotherspoke, a chambered stuffing box secured to the manifold adjacent theaxial chamber, tubes secured to the said water passage to direct thewater from said peripheral chambers into the chamber of the stuffingbox, and a steam supply fitting comprising a steam passage communicatingwith the axial chamber of the manifold, and a water passage surroundingsaid steam passage provided with a pipe extending into said stufiing boxchamber and with an outside discharge pipe.

10. In a rotary drier, the combination of'a \charge ends, a manifold inthe discharge end formed with an axial chamber, peripheral chambers, andcommunicating radial passages between said chambers, the said pasand astationary steam supply fitting projecting into the stufling boxchamber, the said fitting comprising a cylindrical chambered member withasteam pipe, connection extending through the member protruding throughthe stuffing box chamber into the said axial chamber, a pipecommunicating with the interior of said chambered member and extendinginto the annular chamber, and another pipe on the outside of the stuff--ing box chamber communicating with said interior and provided withmeans to permit two subscribing witnesses, on this 7th/day of thedischarge of Water and steam from said April, A. D. 1911.

annular chamber and of steam from said CHARLES E. GEIGER. manifoldchambers. Witnesses: 5 In testimony whereof I have signed my CHARLES H.SEEM,

name to this specification, in the presence of K. W. WONNELL.

